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Second measles case confirmed in Brisbane

Public health authorities in Australia confirmed a second case of measles in Brisbane and are warning commuters to be aware of symptoms.

The warning came a month after Queensland Health confirmed another person had contracted the illness in Southeast Asia and had then visited popular shopping areas in the south of Brisbane, according to TheAustralian.au.

Dr. Brad McCall, Queensland's public health medical officer, said that anyone who might have been near the infected person should contact medical advice if they notice the onset of symptoms. He said that the infected person had been to a local shopping center and used public transport.

"Measles is one of the most infectious of all communicable diseases and is spread by tiny droplets through coughing and sneezing," McCall said, TheAustralian.au reports.

McCall said that symptoms can include fever, lethargy, runny nose, moist coughing, and sore and red eyes. He said these are often followed by a blotchy red rash and warned that measles can often lead to pneumonia, inflammation of the brain or death.

"What we're saying to people who've been in those vicinities is to be particularly mindful that they've had their vaccines, and to be on the lookout for symptoms," McCall said, ABC.net.au reports. "What we don't want is people moving around the community while they may be infectious with measles."